Synchronization Of Client And Access Point During Channel Switch In Wireless Communications

Abstract

Examples pertaining to synchronization of one or more clients and an access point (AP) during channel switch in wireless communications are described. An apparatus acting as an AP of a wireless network transmits a channel switch announcement (CSA) on a first channel to each of one or more clients in the wireless network. The AP then performs a channel switch from the first channel to a second channel. The AP also determines whether at least a first client of the one or more clients has switched to the second channel by transmitting a unicast frame on the second channel to the first client.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 transmitting, by a processor of an apparatus acting as an access point (AP) in a wireless network, a channel switch announcement (CSA) on a first channel to each of one or more clients in the wireless network;   performing, by the processor, a channel switch from the first channel to a second channel; and   determining, by the processor, whether at least a first client of the one or more clients has switched to the second channel by transmitting a unicast frame on the second channel to the first client.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unicast frame comprises a null frame. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unicast frame comprises a data frame, a management frame or an action frame. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the CSA comprises transmitting a CSA frame or a CSA information element (IE). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the processor, an acknowledgement (ACK) from the first client; and   transmitting, by the processor, one or more data packets to the first client responsive to receiving the ACK.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the receiving of the ACK from the first client comprises receiving the ACK after transmitting the unicast frame on the second channel to the first client periodically for multiple times. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining of whether at least a first client of the one or more clients has switched to the second channel comprises transmitting the unicast frame on the second channel to the first client and a second client, wherein the receiving of the ACK from the first client comprises not receiving one other ACK from the second client, and wherein the transmitting of the one or more data packets to the first client comprises transmitting the unicast frame on the second channel to the second client periodically until the other ACK is received from the second client. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor of an apparatus acting as a client in a wireless network associated with an access point (AP), a channel switch announcement (CSA) on a first channel from the AP;   performing, by the processor, a channel switch from the first channel to a second channel responsive to receiving the CSA; and   receiving, by the processor, a unicast frame on the second channel from the AP.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the unicast frame comprises a null frame. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the unicast frame comprises a data frame, a management frame or an action frame. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the receiving of the CSA comprises receiving a CSA frame or a CSA information element (IE). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the processor, an acknowledgement (ACK) to the AP responsive to receiving the unicast frame; and   receiving, by the processor, one or more data packets destined for the client from the AP responsive to transmitting the ACK.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit and receive data and information; and   a processor coupled to the communication device and configured to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting, via the transceiver with the apparatus acting as an access point (AP) in a wireless network, a channel switch announcement (CSA) on a first channel to each of one or more clients in the wireless network; 
 performing, via the transceiver, a channel switch from the first channel to a second channel; and 
 determining whether at least a first client of the one or more clients has switched to the second channel by transmitting, via the transceiver, a unicast frame on the second channel to the first client. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the unicast frame comprises a null frame. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the unicast frame comprises a data frame, a management frame or an action frame. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein, in transmitting the CSA, the processor is configured to transmit a CSA frame or a CSA information element (IE). 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein, with the apparatus acting as the AP in the wireless network, the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via the transceiver, an acknowledgement (ACK) from the first client; and   transmitting, via the transceiver, one or more data packets to the first client responsive to receiving the ACK.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein, in receiving the ACK from the first client, the processor is configured to receive the ACK after transmitting the unicast frame on the second channel to the first client periodically for multiple times. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein, in determining whether at least a first client of the one or more clients has switched to the second channel, the processor is configured to transmit, via the transceiver, the unicast frame on the second channel to the first client and a second client, wherein, in receiving the ACK from the first client, the processor is configured to not receive one other ACK from the second client, and wherein, in transmitting the one or more data packets to the first client, comprises the processor is configured to transmit, via the transceiver, the unicast frame on the second channel to the second client periodically until the other ACK is received from the second client. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein, with the apparatus acting as a client in the wireless network, the processor is configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via the transceiver, a second CSA in a third channel from a second AP;   performing, via the transceiver, a channel switch from the third channel to a fourth channel responsive to receiving the CSA from the second AP;   receiving, via the transceiver, a second unicast frame in the fourth channel from the second AP;   transmitting, via the transceiver, an acknowledgement (ACK) to the second AP responsive to receiving the second unicast frame; and   receiving, via the transceiver, one or more data packets from the second AP responsive to transmitting the ACK.